The Missouri Department of Conservation will hold a grand opening ceremony for the Indian Trail Shooting Range this morning at 9:00 a.m. Special guests will be Missouri Department of Conservation Director John Hoskins, State Senator Frank Barnitz, State Representative Jason Smith and other community leaders. Please bring your firearms. The range will be open for sighting immediately following the conclusion of the ceremony. The Range is located on Highway 19 North, approximately 12 miles, then right on County Road #404, which is Hwy 117, then approximately four miles to the MDC fire tower and house, and right on Conservation Road #10-20.

Eighteen local leaders, business people and interested individuals attended the Revitalization meeting that was held Monday night at the Salem Freedom Activity Center. The Salem Revitalization meeting addressed ways to improve the appearance of the area and create momentum. The group received an update on the DREAM application to the State of Missouri and reviewed results of previous town hall meetings. Options for improving the area were presented. Committees started the process of writing plans to revitalize the area. One sub-committee addressed infrastructure, buildings and beautification and the other group discussed ways to attract and maintain businesses. In previous meetings, the geographic area for revitalization was designated. It includes 4th Street from McArthur to Pershing and the commercial areas adjoining this on 3rd St. from McArthur to Iron and 5th St from McArthur to Hickory. In addition, Highway 19 from Spring Creek North to the new soccer fields was designated as an area for improvement. Some of the areas discussed in beautification and infrastructure were improvements to the Highway 19 Roadside Park, flowers near the roadside of Highway 19 in the grassy areas, increased parking and a wider street on North Highway 19 near Main St Café. The revitalization committee will address the Board of Alderman Monday about their intentions and look for their approval and the assistance of the city. Attracting or Expanding Businesses and enhancing financial support for businesses will not be easy tasks. Marketing, building momentum, improving signage and possibly creating new events to draw the public to Salem such as a trail ride or car shows will help make Dent County more visible outside the area. Identifying new types of businesses that would succeed in Salem were of some concern to this group. This committee feels that there are several things that can be done to improve the area but it will take time to make significant changes. These include marketing the area to attract new businesses, creating “things for people to do” in the area such as hosting trail rides or cars shows, and building on the assets and events that we have in order to become more successful. The next Salem Revitalization meeting will be held on September 18 at 6:00 pm at the Salem Freedom Activity Center. The public is invited to participate in this process. Businesses are especially encouraged to participate as they could benefit from any improvements that might be made. Contact Stan Podorski at KSMO Radio or Sharon Tubbs, Director of Economic Development for the City of Salem for more details concerning this process.

Missouri’s annual Sales Tax Holiday is set for this weekend, with the state sales tax of 4.225% lifted on most back-to-school items that include such things as clothing, school supplies, personal computers, and computer software. In conjunction with the lifting of the state sales tax, many Missouri cities and counties are lifting their local sales taxes on these items as well.

Yadier Molina drove in two runs while Adam Wainwright pitched six solid innings, as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-4, in the opener of a three-game series at PNC Park. Wainwright (10-8) allowed two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk for the Cardinals, who won their fourth consecutive game. Scott Rolen added two hits and two runs scored in the win. This marked the second four- game win streak of the season for St. Louis, and its first since early April from the 8th through the 14th. Jason Isringhausen tossed a scoreless ninth for his 21st save of the campaign. The Cardinals and Pirates play again tonight at 6:00 and you can hear the game on KSMO Radio.

On Tuesday, the Boston Red Sox sent right-hander Joel Pineiro and cash considerations to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday for a minor league player to be named later. Pineiro was 1-1 with a 5.03 earned run average in 16 games this season for the Red Sox before being designated for assignment on July 23. In his career, which includes 148 starts in 216 appearances, Pineiro is 59-56 with a 4.50 ERA in 1,030 innings. His best season came in 2003 -- his first as a full-time starter -- when he went 16-11 with a 3.78 ERA with 151 strikeouts in 32 games.

Carlos Silva threw eight innings and Torii Hunter homered as the Twins posted their fourth consecutive victory, 5-3 over the Kansas City Royals. Mark Grudzielanek had three hits, including a solo homer, for the Royals, in the second contest of the four-game series. Jason LaRue and Jason Smith also homered for Kansas City, which has lost each of the first two games by a pair of runs. Jorge De La Rosa (8-11) yielded eight hits and five runs in six innings for the Royals. Even though they lost, the Royals ended July with a 13-12 record, marking the first time they have recorded back-to-back winning months since the same two months in the 2003 season. The Royals and Twins play again tonight.

The Atlanta Braves continued to add pieces on Tuesday, as they acquired right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel from the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Kyle Davies. In his first season with the Royals, Dotel recorded a 2-1 mark to go along with 11 saves and a 3.91 earned run average. Davies, meanwhile, was 4-8 this season with a 5.76 ERA in 17 starts for the Braves, but lost five of his last six decisions.

Graveside services for Dean Schafer of West Plains, age 72, will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Jadwin Cemetery. Visitation will be this evening from 4:00 to 6:00 at Wilson Mortuary. Memorials may be made to the Riverways Hospice or the Jadwin Cemetery.

Funeral services for Gracie L. Nelson of Salem, age 72, will be held Friday morning at 10:00 at the James & Gahr Chapel. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Funeral services for Lola Ann Diem of Salem, age 93, will be held Friday at 2:00 at the James & Gahr Chapel. Visitation will be Friday from Noon until time of service. Interment will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Funeral services for Lillie “Nettie” Halbert of Cherryville, age 91, will be held Friday at 1:00 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville. Visitation is Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Interment will be Martin Cemetery in Cherryville.